Roman Abramovich addresses Chelsea sale in upcoming book

Roman Abramovich, former owner of Chelsea FC, is set to break his silence on the forced sale of the club in a series of rare interviews featured in the upcoming book 'Sanctioned: The Inside Story of the Sale of Chelsea FC.' The book, by journalist Nick Purewal, will include Abramovich's first in-depth public comments since he sold Chelsea in 2022 under pressure from UK government sanctions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The interviews, conducted in Abu Dhabi and Istanbul, cover topics such as his initial takeover, the sanctions process, his involvement in peace talks during the Ukraine conflict, and his suspected poisoning in 2022. The book also provides perspectives from other parties involved in the £2.5 billion sale to Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital and recounts the rapid 95-day transaction overseen by the UK government. Proceeds from the sale were intended for humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, but those funds currently remain frozen. Since Abramovich's departure, Chelsea have struggled to replicate their previous success under his ownership.